Professional Integrity, Workplace Satisfaction and Tax Fairness
Methodology
- The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada conducted a census-style survey of all members employed at the Canada Revenue Agency.
- Invitations to participate in the Professional Integrity, Workplace Satisfaction and Tax Fairness Survey were sent via email to 11,599 members of the Audit, Financial and Scientific Group (AFS) at the Canada Revenue Agency between February 20 and March 6 2018. Of those who were invited, 2,170 respondents completed the online questionnaire (18.7%).
- The survey was designed by PIPSC analysts and was delivered using the Survey Monkey platform.
- Results are presented without any weighting. There is no margin of error listed because the survey was conducted online and participants were self-selected.
- Participants were allowed to skip questions except for those related to key demographic information.
Demographics
Demographic distribution of survey respondents compared to the total population based on information retrieved from PIPSC’s membership database in July 2018
Age:
|
Age Group |
Total PIPSC Population (CRA) |
Survey Respondents |
|
<30 |
7% |
5% |
|
30-39 |
20% |
18% |
|
40-49 |
30% |
30% |
|
50-59 |
33% |
37% |
|
60+ |
10% |
10% |
Demographic distribution of survey respondents compared to the total population based on information retrieved from PIPSC’s membership database in July 2018
Gender:
|
Gender |
Total PIPSC Population (CRA) |
Survey Respondents |
|
Male |
55% |
56% |
|
Female |
45% |
44% |
Demographic distribution of survey respondents compared to the total population based on information retrieved from PIPSC’s membership database in July 2018
|
Region |
Total PIPSC Population (CRA) |
Survey Respondents |
|
British Columbia |
10% |
9% |
|
Prairies |
11% |
14% |
|
National Capital Region (NCR) |
35% |
29% |
|
Ontario (excl. NCR) |
27% |
30% |
|
Quebec (excl. NCR) |
12% |
13% |
|
Atlantic |
5% |
6% |
Demographic distribution of survey respondents compared to the total population based on information retrieved from PIPSC’s membership database in July 2018
Classification*
|
Classification |
Total PIPSC Population (CRA) |
Survey Respondents (%) |
Survey Respondents |
|
Auditors |
76% |
79% |
n=1384 |
|
Management |
12% |
8% |
n=141 |
|
Commerce |
4% |
4% |
n=76 |
|
Economists, Sociologists and Statisticians |
3% |
4% |
n=59 |
|
Financial Management |
3% |
3% |
n=47 |
|
Social Science |
1% |
1% |
n=24 |
|
Other: (Actuaries, Education, Librarians, Psychologists) |
1% |
1% |
n=10 |
|
Total: |
100% |
100% |
n=1741 |
*429 Computer Systems (CS) employees also participated in the survey. Results from the Computer Systems classification were not selected for inclusion in this report. CS members had a disproportionately low completion rate and it is recognized that a higher proportion of these individuals have professional responsibilities that are less related to tax policy. Survey results that include CS members’ responses are located in Appendix A
Results
- It is easier for corporations and wealthy individuals to evade and / or avoid tax responsibilities than it is for average Canadians
69.7% strongly agree
20.3 somewhat agree
90% in total agree
n = 1715
- Tax credits, tax exemptions and tax loopholes disproportionately benefit corporations and wealthy Canadians compared to average Canadians
56.5% strongly agree
24.2% somewhat agree
81% in total agree
n = 1708
- Multinational corporations shift profits to low-tax regions even when there is little to no corresponding economic activity taking place in that jurisdiction
52.3% strongly agree
23.1% somewhat agree
75% in total agree
n = 1711
- Training and technology advancements within the CRA have not kept pace with the complexity of tax avoidance schemes
47.6% strongly agree
31.0% somewhat agree
79% in total agree
n = 1735
5. The CRA currently has adequate audit coverage capacity to ensure tax laws are being applied fairly across the country
3.1% strongly agree
12.8 somewhat agree
16% in total agree
n = 1733
6. The CRA can do more to increase revenues without raising taxes by better enforcing tax laws that are currently in place
46.6% strongly agree
37.1% somewhat agree
84% in total agree
n = 1735
7. The ability of the CRA to carry out its mandate has been compromised by political interference
17.0% strongly agree
27.9% somewhat agree
45% in total agree
n = 1733
8. The internal restructuring that occurred after expenditure reviews in 2012 resulted in average Canadians, charities and small business being targeted more relative to wealthy Canadians and corporations
15.1% strongly agree
21.9% somewhat agree
37% in total agree
n = 1736
Results Summary
|
Strongly Agree |
Somewhat Agree |
Neutral |
Somewhat Disagree |
Strongly Disagree |
Don't Know / Not Applicable |
|||||
|
1. It is easier for corporations and wealthy individuals to evade and / or avoid tax responsibilities than it is for average Canadians |
69.7% |
20.3% |
4.8% |
1.5% |
0.9% |
2.9% |
n = 1715 |
|
||
|
2. Tax credits, tax exemptions and tax loopholes disproportionately benefit corporations and wealthy Canadians compared to average Canadians |
56.5% |
24.2% |
8.8% |
2.2% |
0.9% |
7.4% |
n = 1708 |
|
||
|
3. Multinational corporations shift profits to low-tax regions even when there is little to no corresponding economic activity taking place in that jurisdiction |
52.3% |
23.1% |
7.5% |
0.8% |
0.4% |
15.9% |
n = 1711 |
|
||
|
4. Training and technology advancements within the CRA have not kept pace with the complexity of tax avoidance schemes |
47.6% |
31.0% |
8.4% |
4.1% |
2.9% |
6.1% |
n = 1735 |
|
||
|
5. The CRA currently has adequate audit coverage capacity to ensure tax laws are being applied fairly across the country |
3.1% |
12.8% |
13.0% |
33.8% |
27.2% |
10.1% |
n = 1733 |
|
||
|
6. The CRA can do more to increase revenues without raising taxes by better enforcing tax laws that are currently in place |
46.6% |
37.1% |
8.4% |
2.2% |
1.2% |
4.6% |
n = 1735 |
|
||
|
7. The ability of the CRA to carry out its mandate has been compromised by political interference |
17.0% |
27.9% |
19.7% |
8.3% |
5.1% |
22.0% |
n = 1733 |
|
||
|
8. The internal restructuring that occurred after expenditure reviews in 2012 resulted in average Canadians, charities and small business being targeted more relative to wealthy Canadians and corporations |
15.1% |
21.9% |
21.3% |
11.5% |
4.3% |
26.0% |
n = 1736 |
|
||
Appendix A – Results Including Computer Systems Employees
These results were not used in the final report. Computer Systems Employees were not selected for inclusion. CS members had a disproportionately low completion rate and it is recognized that a higher proportion of these individuals have professional responsibilities that are less related to tax policy.
|
Strongly Agree |
Somewhat Agree |
Neutral |
Somewhat Disagree |
Strongly Disagree |
Don't Know / Not Applicable |
|||
|
1. It is easier for corporations and wealthy individuals to evade and / or avoid tax responsibilities than it is for average Canadians |
64.9% |
20.6% |
4.9% |
1.6% |
0.9% |
7.1% |
n = 2135 |
|
|
2. Tax credits, tax exemptions and tax loopholes disproportionately benefit corporations and wealthy Canadians compared to average Canadians |
53.1% |
23.3% |
8.4% |
2.0% |
0.9% |
12.2% |
n = 2130 |
|
|
3. Multinational corporations shift profits to low-tax regions even when there is little to no corresponding economic activity taking place in that jurisdiction |
47.2% |
21.8% |
7.6% |
0.8% |
0.3% |
22.3% |
n = 2130 |
|
|
4. Training and technology advancements within CRA have not kept pace with the complexity of tax avoidance schemes |
41.9% |
30.2% |
9.0% |
4.7% |
2.8% |
11.5% |
n = 2162 |
|
|
5. The CRA currently has adequate audit coverage capacity to ensure tax laws are being applied fairly across the country |
3.3% |
12.8% |
13.1% |
28.9% |
23.2% |
18.7% |
n = 2162 |
|
|
6. The CRA can do more to increase revenues without raising taxes by better enforcing tax laws that are currently in place |
43.5% |
36.1% |
8.9% |
1.9% |
1.1% |
8.4% |
n = 2164 |
|
|
7. The ability of the CRA to carry out its mandate has been compromised by political interference |
15.7% |
26.2% |
19.5% |
7.9% |
4.7% |
26.0% |
n = 2158 |
|
|
8. The internal restructuring that occurred after expenditure reviews in 2012 resulted in average Canadians, charities and small business being targeted more relative to wealthy Canadians and corporations |
14.0% |
20.8% |
20.0% |
9.7% |
3.7% |
31.8% |
n = 2165 |